F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
AUG 28 2003
PUBLISH
PATRICK FISHER
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Clerk
TENTH CIRCUIT
JACQUELINE M. DOEBELE,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
No. 01-3372
SPRINT/UNITED MANAGEMENT
COMPANY and SPRINT
SPECTRUM, L.P.,
Defendants-Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Kansas
(D.C. No. 00-CV-2053-KHV)
Dennis E. Egan, The Popham Law Firm, P.C., Kansas City, Missouri, for
Plaintiff-Appellant.
William E. Quirk (Karen R. Glickstein and Monica M. Fanning, of Shughart
Thomson & Kilroy, L.C., Kansas City, Missouri, on the brief), for Defendants-
Appellees.
Before SEYMOUR, ANDERSON and O’BRIEN, Circuit Judges.
SEYMOUR, Circuit Judge.
Jacqueline Doebele sued her former employer, Sprint/United Management
Company and Sprint Spectrum, L.P. (Sprint), alleging claims under the Americans
with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq. (ADA), the Family and Medical
Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2615 (FMLA), and Kansas state law, arising from the
termination of her employment with Sprint as a financial analyst. Ms. Doebele
alleged that Sprint discriminated against her in violation of the ADA by refusing
to provide reasonable accommodation for her mental disabilities and by
discharging her, and retaliated against her for exercising her rights under the
ADA, the FMLA, and the workers compensation laws of Kansas. The district
court granted summary judgment for Sprint on all claims, see Doebele v. Sprint
Corp., 157 F. Supp. 2d 1191 (D. Kan. 2001), and denied Ms. Doebele’s post-
judgment motions for relief, see Doebele v. Sprint Corp., 168 F. Supp. 2d 1247
(D. Kan. 2001).
Ms. Doebele appeals, contending the district court erred by: (1) considering
and relying upon evidence presented for the first time in Sprint’s reply pleading in
the summary judgment proceedings, or alternatively by refusing to grant her
motion to file a surreply; (2) weighing the evidence against her in concluding as a
matter of law that she was not a “qualified individual with a disability” within the
meaning of the ADA; (3) weighing the evidence against her in concluding as a
matter of law that she had not shown Sprint’s reasons for her termination were a
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pretext for retaliation in violation of the ADA and the FMLA; and (4) in granting
summary judgment against her on her state law claim that Sprint fired her in
anticipation that she would file a workers compensation claim. We affirm in part,
reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.
I
In determining whether summary judgment is warranted, we review the
district court’s order de novo. See Selenke v. Med. Imaging of Colo., 248 F.3d
1249, 1255 (10th Cir. 2001). Summary judgment is appropriate only when “the
pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,
together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any
material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of
law.” F ED . R. C IV . P. 56(c). “When applying this standard, we view the evidence
and draw reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the
nonmoving party.” Selenke, 248 F.3d at 1255-56. Viewed most favorably to Ms.
Doebele, the record reveals the following background to this litigation.
Ms. Doebele graduated from Kansas State University in 1984 with a degree
in business administration and an emphasis in accounting. After working in other
financial and accounting positions, she began employment with Sprint in
September, 1996, as a financial analyst and remained in that capacity until her
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employment was terminated on April 20, 1999. She was supervised by Lorrie
McCurdy, who in turn answered to Bridget Carson. Ms. Doebele received merit
pay increases, although in less than the maximum amount, in 1996, 1997, 1998,
and in 1999 shortly before she was fired. Her job performance appraisals for
1996 and 1997 indicated that she met expectations, although she did not receive
the highest rating available. She was not given a formal performance evaluation
in 1998, but met with her supervisor in April 1999 to discuss her performance
shortly before her employment was terminated.
By all accounts the working environment in Ms. Doebele’s department was
not pleasant. The work load was heavy, several of the employees did not get
along with one another, and rumors and gossip added to the negative work
environment. In 1997, Ms. Carson referred Ms. Doebele to the Employee
Assistance Program (EAP) after being told by another employee, Chris Fluke, that
Ms. Doebele had made a comment about jumping off a bridge. Evidence in the
record indicates that although this matter was to be kept confidential, word of the
incident began to circulate. “Co-workers told [Ms. Doebele] that negative
comments were being made concerning her character and mental stability. One
co-worker told her that there were organized attempts to ostracize and fire her.”
Doebele, 157 F. Supp. 2d at 1196.
A memo of a meeting between Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Fluke dated June 16,
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1997, reveals several instances in which Ms. Fluke brought to Ms. McCurdy’s
attention what Ms. Fluke considered work deficiencies on the part of Ms. Doebele
and, in addition, informed Ms. McCurdy that two employees had told Ms. Fluke
they felt physically threatened by Ms. Doebele. Ms. McCurdy stated in her
memo:
This is alarming. Not only is it horrible for someone to feel
physically threatened at their job, but alarming that I see no signs to
indicate such. This is not good. I will meet with each of the
employees individually and refer them to EAP for any questions they
might have. EAP is better qualified to answer questions in this area.
My other concern is that neither employee has come to me with their
concern which also makes me wonder how valid the claim is.
Aplt. App., vol. II at 579. Shortly thereafter Ms. McCurdy met with both
employees identified by Ms. Fluke and both stated that they had no problems with
Ms. Doebele and did not feel threatened by her. Ms. McCurdy noted in her memo
of these meetings that “[i]t looks like Chris is orchestrating this.” Id. at 582.
Although Ms. Doebele stated at department group counseling sessions in
November and December of 1997 that she felt ostracized as a result of the
comments made by Ms. Fluke, no action was taken against Ms. Fluke.
On March 23, 1998, Ms. McCurdy gave Ms. Doebele a verbal warning for
inappropriate email usage, tardiness, and inappropriate behavior in the
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workplace. 1 Ms. Doebele, along with a number of other employees, admittedly
sent or received inappropriate emails. It is also undisputed that Ms. Doebele was
tardy on occasion. The instances of inappropriate workplace behavior all
involved Ms. Doebele’s interactions with other department employees during
which she allegedly became confrontational, angry or defensive. Ms. Doebele
believed these incidents were due to the fact that she was treated differently from
other employees as a result of rumors in the workplace about her mental
problems. Evidence in the record indicates that Ms. Doebele’s mental condition
was a topic of conversation among the other employees in her department.
On July 22, 1998, after the verbal warning had become inactive, Ms.
McCurdy placed Ms. Doebele on written warning. The warning stated that it was
the result of “four confrontational incidents” between Ms. Doebele and other
employees, and phone calls from Ms. Doebele to employees “at home after work
hours to discuss work-related issues at length.” Aplt. App., vol. I at 302. The
warning directed Ms. Doebele to have no closed-door meetings with other
1
Sprint’s employee discipline policy employed a four-step correction
process. At step one an employee was given a verbal reminder which was active
for three months; at step two the employee was given a written reminder which
was active for six months; at step three the employee received a final written
warning which was active for twelve months; and at step four the employee was
terminated. An employee who was subject to an active warning when she
received another warning would progress to the next step in the process. If,
however, the warning had become inactive, a new infraction would begin the
progression at step one.
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individuals, and instead to discuss issues in an open forum or a small conference
that included her manager. It also directed Ms. Doebele to refrain from calling
employees after work to discuss issues that could be handled during the work day.
The record indicates that sometime shortly before Ms. Doebele was given
this warning, she spoke with Kim Klosak in Sprint’s human resources department
and said she felt she was being subjected to a hostile work environment. Ms.
Klosak investigated the matter and believed Ms. Doebele was being set up, noting
that two of the alleged confrontational incidents underlying the upcoming written
warning involved employees who were friends with the people who admittedly
wanted to “get rid of” Ms. Doebele. Aplt. App., vol. II at 513. Ms. Klosak had a
meeting with Ms. Carson and Ms. McCurdy, whom the record indicates were the
people who wanted to fire Ms. Doebele, and told them that harassment in the
workplace violated Sprint policy. Ms. Klosak and Ms. Doebele discussed the
situation with Abigail Dillard, the equal opportunity officer for Sprint. Ms.
Dillard told Ms. Doebele to document the issue and send it to her.
Ms. Dillard also discussed Ms. Doebele’s concern about a hostile work
environment with Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson, and told them she would be
conducting an investigation into the matters about which Ms. Doebele had raised
concerns. Ms. Dillard knew that Ms. Doebele was going to be given the written
warning and discussed that matter with Ms. McCurdy as well, pointing out that
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the warning needed to be supported with written documentation. Ms. Dillard
stated that she would have to be provided with appropriate documentation before
she could agree that they needed to go to the next level of corrective action. As
of Friday, July 17, 1998, Ms. Dillard had received no documentation from Ms.
McCurdy that would support corrective action.
On Monday, July 22, Ms. McCurdy forwarded documentation to Ms.
Dillard consisting of a memo from Roosevelt Draine dated July 19, 1998,
describing a meeting he had with Ms. Doebele during the week of May 18, 1998,
and a memo from Bonita Holland dated July 21, 1998, describing a conversation
she had with Ms. Doebele on June 11, 1998. Ms. Dillard believed the incidents
described in those memos should have been documented at the time they occurred.
She discussed this problem with Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson, and asked them
why the documentation had not been prepared contemporaneously with the events
at issue, what investigation had been conducted, what counseling Ms. Doebele
had received as a result, and whether some other form of corrective action had
taken place. Ms. Dillard believed such actions should have been taken,
particularly in view of the fact that Mr. Draine had stated in his memo he felt
physically threatened during his meeting with Ms. Doebele. Ms. Dillard was
concerned that the after-the-fact documentation was an attempt to build a file on
Ms. Doebele to support a decision already made. She also expressed her view to
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Anne Kinney, the director of the human resources department, who did not share
Ms. Dillard’s concerns. Ms. Doebele was given a written warning that day, July
17, 1998, despite Ms. Dillard’s misgivings.
On the day she received her warning, Ms. Doebele saw Leonel Urdaneta,
M.D., a psychiatrist, complaining of stress from her work, relational difficulties,
and fear that she would lose her job. She reported previous similar episodes, one
of which involved depression. Dr. Urdaneta diagnosed Ms. Doebele as suffering
from bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and hypothyroidism. He
recommended that she be placed on short term disability leave. Ms. Doebele
attempted unsuccessfully to return to work on September 29. She was seeing a
counselor who reported to Dr. Urdaneta that Ms. Doebele had stayed away from
work because her symptoms became worse when she returned. Dr. Urdaneta asked
Sprint to excuse Ms. Doebele’s absences on September 30, and October 1 and 2.
After Dr. Urdaneta placed Ms. Doebele on short term disability leave, she
notified Ms. Dillard that she was not going to be at work, and Ms. Dillard in turn
informed Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson. Ms. Dillard told them that an employee
like Ms. Doebele had rights under the ADA and the FMLA, and raised the
possibility that Ms. Doebele could file a workers’ compensation claim on the
basis of work-related stress. Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson nonetheless told Ms.
Dillard that they wanted “to get rid” of Ms. Doebele. Aplt. App., vol. II at 525.
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Ms. Dillard warned Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson that they risked committing
unlawful acts as a result of their determination to terminate Ms. Doebele’s
employment. Based on information she had received, Ms. Dillard was concerned
that Ms. Doebele would deliberately be overloaded with work and expressed this
concern to Ms. Carson and Ms. Kinney. Ms. Dillard pointed out to Ms. McCurdy
and Ms. Carson that Ms. Doebele’s behavior could be related to her medical
condition, and warned them that because of her disability they had to treat her
with some care. Ms. Doebele returned to work in early October.
The record contains a memo to Ms. McCurdy dated October 29, 1998, from
Linda Weidner, an employee who worked in Ms. Doebele’s department,
concerning the work environment there. Ms. Weidner recounted an instance in
which another employee treated Ms. Doebele badly, suggesting the incident was
the result of office politics. Ms. Weidner further stated: “I would also, as your
friend, like to offer a word of caution. In some of the things I have heard you say
lately, it could be interpreted that you have lost all objectivity when it comes to
issues involving [Ms. Doebele].” Id. at 590. Ms. Weidner ended by asking to be
allowed to apply for other positions outside the department, stating she could “not
continue to work in such a hostile environment.” Id.
On November 18, Ms. Doebele told her counselor her workload had tripled
and she felt overwhelmed by some circumstances at work. The counselor
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reported this to Dr. Urdaneta, who wrote a letter to Sprint stating that “[d]ue to
[Ms. Doebele’s] medical condition and recent short-term disability, we strongly
recommend that Ms. Doebele not work more than 40 hours per week.” Id. at 570.
Ms. McCurdy said in an email to Ms. Carson that in her view the request was
ridiculous and that she saw Ms. Doebele “building a case for a lawsuit or a reason
to go on long-term disability.” Id. 422. On December 3, 1998, Dr. Urdaneta
wrote a letter to the human resources department opining that Ms. Doebele was
unable to work November 30, and December 1 and 2.
On Friday, December 4, 1998, Ms. McCurdy placed Ms. Doebele on final
written warning. The warning declared that Ms. Doebele’s attendance since
returning from her short term disability leave on September 28, 1998, was
“interfering with [her] ability to perform [her] job functions,” and that her
inappropriate workplace behavior, in particular involving an incident the day
before obtaining her doctor’s release to return to work, “disrupted the workflow
in the office.” Aplt. App., vol. I at 303. The day Ms. Doebele was given this
warning, Ms. Carson sent an email to John Meyer, the vice president to whom she
reported, informing him the warning would be given and reminding him Ms.
Doebele was “the individual that was out on disability for over 9 weeks.” Aplt.
App., vol. II at 597. Ms. Carson also sent an email to Ms. Kinney with a copy of
the warning along with Ms. McCurdy’s notes on the matter. The message stated
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that “someone from network security will be ‘around’ during our discussions in
the event the situation gets out of control.” Id. Ms. Carson said she was afraid
Ms. Doebele “could be volatile emotionally, could do something physical.” Id. at
439-40. Ms. Kinney agreed.
Ms. Doebele saw Dr. Urdaneta on December 9, 1998, and he again placed
her on disability leave as of the preceding Monday, December 7. Ms. Doebele
had left a voice mail message with Ms. Dillard on the day she received the
warning, stating that she wished to file a complaint of discrimination and hostile
environment. Ms. Dillard told her to put it in writing and she would investigate
it. Ms. Doebele did so and submitted it to Ms. Dillard on that Monday. Ms.
Dillard emailed a copy of the complaint to Ms. Carson and told her Ms. Doebele
had been placed on disability leave. She informed both Ms. Carson and Ms.
McCurdy of Sprint’s policy against retaliation, pointing out that employees had a
right to file complaints and that no retaliatory actions could be directed against an
employee for doing so. Ms. Dillard informed them that Ms. Doebele had been
diagnosed with clinical depression and was on a suicide watch. Ms. Dillard told
Ms. Doebele her complaint would be discussed upon her return to work.
When the original length of this disability leave period was extended, an
exchange of emails by Sprint employees disclosed some concern in the human
resources department over whether Ms. Doebele had made a timely request for an
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extension of benefits and whether she had used up her leave under the FMLA. An
email from Natalie Anderson in the human resources department stated Ms.
Anderson had received a letter from Dr. Urdaneta’s practice group dated
December, 30, recommending that Ms. Doebele’s leave continue. Ms. Anderson
commented “[u]nfortunately, this counts as meeting the time frame (if there was a
denial and an appeal) so we are in another pending status.” Id. at 601.
Before Ms. Doebele was given the final warning, Ms. Dillard had warned
Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson that in her view the proposed warning was illegal:
I told them that you all are basically telling me that you want to get
rid of this employee, she hasn’t even returned to work yet, there’s not
been a fair opportunity for her to demonstrate her ability to improve
her performance which is required under our policy; that I have a
concern that you are going to have too much pressure on her, you are
going to micromanage her and further make her environment hostile.
. . . So I made them perfectly clear that I thought what they were
doing would be unlawful, that the risk would be high for a complaint
of discrimination and harassment or for a lawsuit. I communicated
that to them and I communicated it to Anne Kinney.
Id. at 541-42. Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson responded that “we’re going to
follow the steps that we’re required to follow, meaning we are going to gather the
proper data, the proper documentation, and we’re going to manage her
performance but we are going to be on her all the time . . . .” Id. at 543. Ms.
Dillard expressed the view that Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson
wanted [Ms. Doebele] terminated and they weren’t really satisfied
with the track that I had them on to accommodate her, they wanted to
get rid of her . . . as soon as possible, and that’s part of the reason
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why we see that [Ms. Doebele] was advised that the next thing that
happened they would terminate her. I mean, that’s part of the
pressure they put on her to let her know they wanted her out of there.
Id. at 538.
Dr. Urdaneta determined that Ms. Doebele could commence trial
employment on February 23, 1999. Accordingly, he wrote a letter dated February
22, 1999, to the human resources department at Sprint recommending the
following work schedule:
We recommend that she work 5 hours per day, 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday, with a 40 hour per week schedule starting
March 8, 1999. We would further recommend that Ms. Doebele be
allowed to leave work for therapy, at first weekly, then moving to
twice monthly schedule by April 15, 1999. We recommend the type
of work to be limited stress situations, no supervisory responsibilities
for the first 2 months of work, no more than 40 hours per week, and
limited interpersonal relations.
Aplt. App., vol. I at 294. Ms. Carson wrote to Ms. Doebele the following day
asking her to provide additional information from her doctor on what he meant by
limited stress and limited interpersonal relations, why he recommended a five-
hour work day the first two weeks, why her therapy could not be scheduled so as
not to interfere with work hours, and to clarify her diagnosis. Dr. Urdaneta
responded in a letter dated the next day explaining that his recommendations were
intended to allow Ms. Doebele to adjust to the work schedule and its demands on
a gradual basis. He also informed Sprint there was a four to five week waiting
list for appointments after 4 p.m. and Ms. Doebele would be scheduled for one as
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soon as possible but that she needed therapy in the meantime. Finally, Dr.
Urdaneta diagnosed Ms. Doebele as suffering from a bipolar disorder.
In a letter dated March 8, 1999, two weeks after Dr. Urdaneta had cleared
Ms. Doebele to return to work with the temporary accommodations, Ms. Carson
wrote to Ms. Doebele informing her Sprint would only accommodate her request
to work five-hour days for two weeks. Ms. Carson rejected the other
accommodations however, stating that “the ‘limited stress’ and ‘limited
interpersonal relations’ accommodations are not reasonable or required under the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The job functions that you want
modified are essential and required for the performance of your duties as a tables
analyst.” Aplt. App., vol. II at 605. Rather than offering Ms. Doebele a position
in which these accommodations could be met, Ms. Carson declared that “[i]f you
choose to return to work . . . , you will be expected to fully carry out all the duties
of your job including, but not limited to, supervisory and interpersonal
responsibilities. Should you choose not to return to work . . . , I will assume that
you have voluntarily resigned your position.” Id. No one from Sprint discussed
with Ms. Doebele her requested accommodations, nor did anyone raise the
possibility that she could transfer to another position even though Sprint was
hiring 200-300 people a week at that time.
Upon receiving Ms. Carson’s letter, Ms. Doebele called Ms. Kinney in the
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human resources department and informed her that she believed her short term
disability was work-related. Ms. Kinney responded that Sprint was not contesting
the disability issue. Ms. Kinney then discussed with Ms. Carson the possibility
that Ms. Doebele might file a legal action against Sprint. Ms. Dillard also
discussed this possibility with Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson, pointing out that
Ms. Doebele had indicated on her short term disability form that her disability
was work-related. Although the human resources department sent Ms. Doebele
the forms to file a workers compensation claim, she did not complete them
because she believed Ms. Kinney was going to look into the matter.
Ms. Doebele returned to work on March 12, 1999. Her employment was
terminated on April 20, allegedly due to attendance problems and lack of personal
effectiveness. The termination notice did not provide any details supporting these
reasons for discharge, and it is undisputed that Ms. Doebele still had plenty of
time pool days 2 available and that she had been granted FMLA leave in July and
December 1998.
Ms. Dillard had been eased out of the picture before Ms. Doebele’s
employment was terminated, and she did not know when Ms. Doebele was
discharged. Ms. Carson had not been happy with Ms. Dillard’s advice and had
2
Under Sprint’s “time pool” policy, an employee could “draw on a fixed
amount of time off for vacation, personal, sick leave or other reasons.” Doebele
v. Sprint Corp., 157 F. Supp. 2d 1191, 1196 (D. Kan. 2001).
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taken the matter to Ms. Kinney, Ms. Dillard’s director, who took Ms. Doebele’s
file from Ms. Dillard. Ms. Dillard stated that her notes on the investigation of
Ms. Doebele’s discrimination complaint and on the conversations she had with
Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson advising them that their actions could be unlawful
were not in the file at the time her deposition was taken.
Ms. Dillard believed that Ms. Doebele’s termination for attendance issues
was a “sham” because “we were dealing with an ADA issue.” Aplt. App., vol. III
at 805. According to Ms. Dillard, Sprint’s treatment of Ms. Doebele differed
from the treatment given to other employees with mental impairments that she had
counseled. She stated that she had “worked on cases where attendance issues
were much higher than this and people hadn’t been put on corrective action yet.”
Id. at 807. She pointed out that because she had worked on numerous attendance
cases, she was better able than Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson to determine
whether Sprint’s treatment of Ms. Doebele in this matter was consistent with its
usual practice. Ms. Dillard stated that ordinarily managers took the advice given
to them by the human resources department and wanted to ensure that they were
not treating employees unlawfully. “[W]ith Jackie Doebele, . . . I don’t know if it
was personal, personality issues, or what, but these two managers were adamant
about the fact that the end for this employee was going to come.” Aplt. App., vol.
II at 545. Both Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson told Ms. Dillard that they believed
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Ms. Doebele posed a physical threat to other employees, and that her relationship
with her co-workers was increasingly hostile.
II
After exhausting her administrative remedies, Ms. Doebele brought this
action alleging that she was a qualified person with disabilities within the
meaning of the ADA, and that Sprint discriminated against her on the basis of
those disabilities in violation of the Act. She also asserted retaliation claims
under the ADA and the FMLA, alleging Sprint retaliated against her for asserting
her rights under those Acts. Finally, she contended Sprint retaliated against her in
violation of state law by discharging her in anticipation that she would file a
workers compensation claim.
The district court granted summary judgment for Sprint on all claims. The
court ruled that Ms. Doebele had failed to show a prima facie case of
discrimination under the ADA because she had not shown she was a qualified
person with a disability within the meaning of the Act. In so doing, the court
concluded Ms. Doebele had not shown an actual disability that limited one or
more of her major life activities, or that she had a record of disability, or that
Sprint regarded her as disabled. The court rejected Ms. Doebele’s federal
retaliation claims, concluding she had not shown a fact issue on whether Sprint’s
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legitimate reasons for her discharge were pretextual. Finally, the court granted
summary judgment on Ms. Doebele’s state law retaliation claim, holding that
because mental injuries are not compensable under the Kansas workers
compensation scheme absent physical injury, her retaliation claim was likewise
barred. Ms. Doebele’s appeal challenges all of these rulings.
A. Discrimination under the ADA
The ADA prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of an
employee’s disability, stating that “[n]o covered entity shall discriminate against a
qualified individual with a disability because of the disability of such individual
in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, advancement, or discharge of
employees, employee compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and
privileges of employment.” 42 U.S.C. § 12112. To establish a prima facie case
of disability discrimination under the Act, a plaintiff must show that (1) she is
disabled within the meaning of the ADA; (2) she is qualified for her employment
position; and (3) the defendant discriminated against her because of her disability.
See Poindexter v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry., 168 F.3d 1228, 1230 (10th
Cir. 1999). The ADA defines disability as “(A) a physical or mental impairment
that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual;
(B) a record of such an impairment; or (C) being regarded as having such an
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impairment.” 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2). Ms. Doebele alleged a claim under all three
definitions and we address each in turn.
1. Actual Disability
Under subsection (A), a plaintiff must show that an impairment
substantially limits at least one major life activity. See Bristol v. Bd. of County
Comm’rs, 281 F.3d 1148, 1158 (10th Cir.), rev’d in part on other grounds, 312
F.3d 1213 (10th Cir. 2002) (en banc). This definition contains three elements.
First, the plaintiff must have a recognized impairment; second, the plaintiff must
identify one or more appropriate major life activities; and third, the plaintiff must
show that the impairment substantially limits one or more of those activities. Id.
at 1156. The plaintiff “must articulate with precision the impairment alleged and
the major life activity affected by that impairment,” Poindexter, 168 F.3d at 1232,
and the court is to analyze only those activities identified by the plaintiff. Id. at
1231-32. Whether the plaintiff has an impairment within the meaning of the ADA
is a question of law for the court to decide. See Bristol, 281 F.3d at 1156-57;
Poindexter, 168 F.3d at 1230. Whether the conduct affected is a major life
activity for purposes of the Act is also a legal question for the court. See Bristol,
281 F.3d at 1157; Poindexter, 168 F.3d at 1230. However, ascertaining whether
the impairment substantially limits the major life activity is a factual question for
the jury. See Bristol, 281 F.3d at 1157.
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Determining both how well ‘the average person in the general
population’ performs any given major life activity and whether the
plaintiff has proven he is ‘unable to perform’ or is ‘significantly
restricted’ in performing a major life activity involves weighing
evidence and assessing credibility of witnesses, tasks historically
given to the jury in our judicial system.
Id. at 1158 (quoting 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)).
In addressing Ms. Doebele’s claims under subsection (A), the district court
determined that her impairments -- bipolar disorder, ADD, and hypothyroidism --
could constitute disabilities under the ADA. 3 The court viewed Ms. Doebele’s
pleadings as asserting that her impairments affected the life activities of caring
for herself, speaking, sleeping, concentrating, learning, interacting with others,
and working for extended periods of time. 4 Although the court noted that in her
response to Sprint’s motion for summary judgment, Ms. Doebele addressed only
the major life activities of communicating, concentrating, and interacting with
others, see Doebele, 157 F. Supp. 2d at 1208 n.23, the court nonetheless
3
As the district court observed, Sprint has never denied that these
impairments could constitute disabilities under the ADA. “[E]very appellate
court which has considered the question has held or assumed that ‘bipolar
disorder’ is a mental disability covered under the ADA, at least if it is sufficiently
severe, as was the case here.” Den Hartog v. Wasatch Acad., 129 F.3d 1076,
1081 (10th Cir. 1997) (citing cases). It is also clear that ADD may constitute an
impairment within the meaning of the Act. See Davidson v. Midelfort Clinic,
Ltd., 133 F.3d 499, 506 (7th Cir. 1998) (citing 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(h)(2)).
4
The court held that while working is a major life activity, working
overtime is not. See Doebele, 157 F. Supp. 2d at 1211. Ms. Doebele does not
challenge this ruling on appeal and we do not address it.
-21-
addressed whether she had raised a fact issue with respect to the activities of
caring for herself, speaking, sleeping, learning, and interacting with others. The
court properly rejected concentration as a major life activity, see Poindexter, 168
F.3d at 1231 (holding concentration may be component of major life activity but
is not such an activity itself), and assumed that interacting with others is a major
life activity, see Steele v. Thiokol Corp., 241 F.3d 1248, 1254-55 (10th Cir. 2001)
(noting question not resolved in this circuit and not reaching it).
The court then ruled on the third issue, which we held in Bristol is
ordinarily a fact question for the jury, and concluded as a matter of law that Ms.
Doebele had failed to present evidence that her impairments substantially limited
any of the major life activities she had identified. 5 Ms. Doebele contends on
appeal that in so doing the court improperly evaluated credibility, failed to draw
inferences in favor of her as the nonmoving party, and resolved factual disputes.
She asserts she raised a fact issue on the basis of Dr. Urdaneta’s evidence, her
approved short term disability leave on two occasions, 6 and other evidence from
5
As we noted in Bristol, in proper circumstances a court may decide this
step on a motion for summary judgment. See Bristol v. Bd. of County Comm’rs,
281 F.3d 1148, 1161 n.5 (10th Cir. 2002).
6
Ms. Doebele offers as significant evidence on this issue the statement by
Ms. Kinney to her that Sprint was not contesting her disability. This statement,
read in context, refers to Sprint’s acquiescence in Dr. Urdaneta’s decisions
regarding placing Ms. Doebele on short term disability leave. The statement is
not a concession by Sprint that she was disabled for purposes of the ADA.
-22-
Sprint employees tending to show a substantial effect from her disabilities. As
we discuss below, our review of the record in the light most favorable to Ms.
Doebele persuades us the district court did not err in ruling as a matter of law that
she failed to create a fact issue on whether she was disabled under the definition
in subsection (A).
A physical or mental impairment is substantially limiting if the affected
individual is:
(i) Unable to perform a major life activity that the average person in
the general population can perform; or
(ii) Significantly restricted as to the condition, manner or duration
under which an individual can perform a particular life activity as
compared to the condition, manner, or duration under which the
average person in the general population can perform that same
major life activity.
Pack v. Kmart Corp., 166 F.3d 1300, 1305 (10th Cir. 1999) (quoting 29 C.F.R. §
1630.2(j)(1)). In making this determination we consider three factors: “(1) the
nature and severity of the impairment; (2) the duration or expected duration of the
impairment; and (3) the permanent or long term impact or the expected permanent
or long term impact of or resulting from the impairment.” Id. We also take into
consideration “any mitigating or corrective measures utilized by the individual,
such as medications.” Id. at 1305-06. Thus to establish that she was substantially
limited in the major life activities she identified, Ms. Doebele was required to
show, under the factors set out above, either that she was unable to perform these
-23-
activities or was significantly restricted in her ability to perform them when
compared to the average person in the general population.
The district court addressed whether Ms. Doebele was substantially limited
in her ability to care for herself, communicate, sleep, learn, and interact with
others. Sprint contends on appeal that Ms. Doebele has now abandoned her
argument with respect to the activities of caring for herself, sleeping and learning.
We believe that Sprint’s assessment is a fair reading of Ms. Doebele’s appellate
argument and Ms. Doebele does not argue to the contrary. Accordingly, we
address only the life activities of communicating and interacting with others. In
any event, our review of the record establishes that the district court did not err in
concluding Ms. Doebele failed as a matter of law to show her impairments
affected her ability to care for herself, sleep, or learn.
Ms. Doebele failed to raise a fact issue on whether she was significantly
limited in her ability to communicate with others. Other than an instance in
which Ms. McCurdy noted that Ms. Doebele had left a phone message in which
her speech was slurred and difficult to understand, there is no evidence tending to
show she had difficulty communicating. Dr. Urdaneta stated that she had no
trouble speaking with him and he had no trouble understanding her. The
undisputed evidence shows that Ms. Doebele had conversations with family
members, friends, other employees and supervisors. Although her supervisors
-24-
believed Ms. Doebele had problems communicating issues and discussing their
resolution, they viewed her difficulty as one with the content of the speech and
not the speech itself.
Although perhaps a closer question, we conclude the district court also
properly determined that Ms. Doebele did not create a fact issue concerning
whether her impairments substantially affected her ability to interact with others.
We addressed this issue under similar facts in Steele, 241 F.3d at 1254-55, noting
a circuit split on whether interacting with others is a major life activity for
purposes of the ADA and assuming, without deciding, that it was. In Steele, as in
the instant case, the plaintiff alleged he had severe interpersonal problems with
many of his coworkers and his impairments resulted in behaviors that made him
the object of nasty comments and jokes. We pointed out, however, that “‘[m]ere
trouble getting along with coworkers is not sufficient to show a substantial
limitation.’” Id. at 1255 (quoting McAlindin v. County of San Diego, 192 F.3d
1226, 1235 (9th Cir. 1999)). We held dispositive the plaintiff’s failure to
“provide[] any evidence that his [impairment] has caused him to have trouble
getting along with people in general.” Id. “[I]n order to demonstrate a plaintiff’s
major life activity of interacting with others was substantially affected, a plaintiff
must show that his relations with others were characterized on a regular basis by
severe problems, for example, consistently high levels of hostility, social
-25-
withdrawal, or failure to communicate when necessary.” Id. (internal quotations
omitted); see also Doyal v. Okla. Heart, Inc., 213 F.3d 492, 499 (10th Cir. 2000).
Here, as in Steele, while there is no question Ms. Doebele had difficulty
interacting with a number of her coworkers, there is no evidence tending to show
she had problems interacting with people in general. The evidence is undisputed
that she played softball and volleyball on organized teams, was in a group at work
that collected Beanie Babies, babysat, went to Kansas State and Kansas City
Chiefs football games, was active in her local college alumni association, and had
a boyfriend on and off for a number of years with whom she went to church, the
movies and out to dinner. Because Ms. Doebele failed to demonstrate that her
impairments substantially impaired her ability to interact with people in general
on a regular basis, we conclude that, even assuming interacting with others is a
major life activity, Ms. Doebele has not shown this activity was significantly
limited for purposes of the ADA.
2. Record of Disability
Ms. Doebele also contends she meets the definition of disability under
section 12102(2)(B) because she has a record of an impairment that substantially
limits the major life activity of working. 7 “To have a record of such an
7
As the district court pointed out, see Doebele, 157 F. Supp. 2d at 1213
n.26, Ms. Doebele is not taking inconsistent positions in asserting this claim. Her
(continued...)
-26-
impairment, a plaintiff must have a history of, or been misclassified as having, an
impairment that substantially limited a major life activity.” Sorensen v. Univ. of
Utah Hosp., 194 F.3d 1084, 1087 (10th Cir. 1999). “[T]he record-of-impairment
standard is satisfied only if she actually suffered [an impairment] that
substantially limited one or more of her major life activities.” Id. (quoting
Hilburn v. Murata Elec. N. Am., Inc., 181 F.3d 1220, 1229 (11th Cir. 1999)). Ms.
Doebele asserts she satisfies this definition on the basis of her short term
disability leaves, contending they constitute a record showing that her mental
impairments substantially limited her ability to work.
We assess this claim by considering the nature and severity of the
impairment, its duration or expected duration, and the permanent or long term
impact or expected impact resulting from the impairment. Id. The nature and
severity of Ms. Doebele’s mental impairments during her disability leaves clearly
weigh in favor of finding that they substantially impaired her ability to work.
However, the periods themselves were of limited duration and thus weigh against
a finding of substantial limitation. See id. Moreover, at the time these events
occurred, both Dr. Urdaneta and Ms. Doebele believed that she could work under
7
(...continued)
claim under 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(A) asserting that her impairments limited major
life activities did not include the activity of working, while her claims under
subsections (B) and (C) are based only on the major life activity of working.
-27-
the limitations Dr. Urdaneta suggested. 8 The expected duration of the
impairments thus also weighs against a finding of disability. Accordingly, we
conclude that Ms. Doebele has not raised a fact issue on whether she had a record
of a disability under subsection (B) during the relevant period.
3. Regarded as Disabled
Finally, we turn to Ms. Doebele’s claim that she is disabled under section
12102(2)(C) because Sprint personnel regarded her as having an impairment that
substantially limited the major life activity of working.
There are two apparent ways in which individuals may fall within
this statutory definition: (1) a covered entity mistakenly believes that
a person has a physical impairment that substantially limits one or
more major life activities, or (2) a covered entity mistakenly believes
that an actual, nonlimiting impairment substantially limits one or
more major life activities. In both cases, it is necessary that a
covered entity entertain misperceptions about the individual–it must
believe either that one has a substantially limiting impairment that
one does not have or that one has a substantially limiting impairment
when, in fact, the impairment is not so limiting.
Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471, 489 (1999).
8
The record contains evidence from a vocational expert that the restrictions
placed by Dr. Urdaneta on Ms. Doebele’s ability to work after her second
disability leave would not prevent her from working as an accountant. Moreover,
Dr. Urdaneta stated that “[p]art of me has seen her as still capable of doing work.
On the other hand, I had become more and more aware that she had limitations.”
Aplt. App., vol. II at 576. He encouraged her to begin thinking about
rehabilitation and returning to work, but could not say with a reasonable degree of
medical certainty whether she was capable of working. All of this evidence,
however, addressed Ms. Doebele’s limitations well after the events upon which
her claims are based.
-28-
“These misperceptions often ‘resul[t] from stereotypic assumptions not
truly indicative of . . . individual ability.” Id. (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 12101(a)(7)).
“Congress acknowledged that society’s accumulated myths and fears about
disability and disease are as handicapping as are the physical limitations that flow
from actual impairment.” Id. (quoting Sch. Bd. of Nassau County v. Arline, 480
U.S. 273, 284 (1987)).
An individual rejected from a job because of the “myths, fears
and stereotypes” associated with disabilities would be covered under
this part of the definition of disability, whether or not the employer’s
or other covered entity’s perception were shared by others in the field
and whether or not the individual’s actual physical or mental
condition would be considered a disability under the first or second
part of this definition. As the legislative history notes, sociologists
have identified common attitudinal barriers that frequently result in
employers excluding individuals with disabilities. These include
concerns regarding productivity, safety, insurance, liability,
attendance, cost of accommodation and accessibility, workers’
compensation costs, and acceptance by coworkers and customers.
29 C.F.R. pt. 1630, App. § 1630.2(l).
When the major life activity at issue is that of working, a plaintiff must
show that she is unable to perform either a class of jobs or a broad range of jobs
in various classes. See Sutton, 527 U.S. at 491-92 (quoting 29 C.F.R. pt. 1630,
App. § 1630.2(j)(3)(i)). A plaintiff asserting she is disabled under subsection (C)
must therefore show that her employer regarded her as having an impairment
substantially limiting her ability to perform a broad range of jobs, rather than a
single position, see id. at 491-92; McKenzie v. Dovala, 242 F.3d 967, 970-72
-29-
(10th Cir. 2001); Sorensen, 194 F.3d at 1088-89, and that the employer’s
misperception was “based on ‘myth, fear, or stereotype,’ including concerns
regarding safety, insurance, liability, and acceptance by coworkers and the
public.” McKenzie, 242 F.3d at 971.
Our review of the record convinces us Ms. Doebele presented a fact issue
on whether Sprint’s adverse employment actions were motivated by the fact that
her supervisors regarded her as substantially limited from a broad class of jobs by
her mental impairments. Her coworkers and supervisors knew she had mental
problems even before she was diagnosed as bipolar by Dr. Urdaneta. Although
Ms. McCurdy originally believed Ms. Fluke had orchestrated the alleged
workplace fear that Ms. Doebele posed a physical threat to coworkers, the
evidence set out above indicates that Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson both came to
view Ms. Doebele as a threat to other employees after Ms. Doebele was diagnosed
and had taken disability leave. In this regard, we note the memo sent from Linda
Weidner to Ms. McCurdy in October 1998 cautioning Ms. McCurdy that she could
be viewed as having “lost all objectivity” with respect to Ms. Doebele. Aplt.
App., vol. II at 590. We also note, in particular, statements by Ms. McCurdy and
Ms. Carson to Ms. Dillard voicing their belief that Ms. Doebele posed a physical
threat and their decision to have security personnel present when she was given
her final warning and when she was fired. In addition to their admitted concern
-30-
about her relationship with coworkers, the record reveals that Ms. Doebele’s
supervisors also expressed concern with productivity, attendance and insurance,
all recognized indicators of discrimination based on myth, fears, and stereotypes.
See 29 C.F.R. pt. 1630, App. § 1630.2(l); McKenzie, 242 F.3d at 970-71.
It is significant that the ADA anti-discrimination provision “does not
contemplate a stark dichotomy between ‘disability’ and ‘disability-caused
misconduct,’ but rather protects both.” McKenzie, 242 F.3d at 974 (quoting
Nielsen v. Moroni Feed Co., 162 F.3d 604, 608 (10th Cir. 1998)); see also Den
Hartog, 129 F.3d at 1088. The ADA thus protects an individual from “adverse
employment action based on conduct related to her illness so long as she does not
pose a ‘direct threat.’” McKenzie, 242 F.3d at 974 (citing 42 U.S.C. § 12113(a),
(b)).
The determination that an individual is unqualified because she poses
a direct threat must be “based on an individualized assessment of the
individual’s present ability to safely perform the essential functions
of the job,” which in turn must be based on “a reasonable medical
judgment that relies on the most current medical knowledge and/or
on the best available objective evidence.”
Id. (quoting 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(r)). 9 The record provides no indication Ms.
9
[T]he ADA’s protection of disability-caused conduct is
subject to certain limitations found in the Act. First, a
disabled employee “may be held to any performance
criteria that are job-related and consistent with business
necessity, so long as the disabled employee is given the
(continued...)
-31-
McCurdy’s and Ms. Carson’s belief that Ms. Doebele posed a physical threat to
coworkers was based on a reasonable medical judgment. None of Dr. Urdaneta’s
reports indicated she posed a threat to her coworkers, and he eventually cleared
her to return to work with recommended accommodations to help ease her back
into a full work schedule. The supervisors’ disregard of the assessment and
recommendations of Ms. Doebele’s treating physician support the inference that
their actions were improperly based on myth, fear, and stereotype, rather than an
individualized evaluation of Ms. Doebele’s abilities.
The record also supports the reasonable inference that Ms. Doebele’s
supervisors viewed her as substantially limited in her ability to perform a broad
range of jobs. Although Ms. McCurdy and Ms. Carson rejected most of Dr.
9
(...continued)
opportunity to meet such performance criteria by
reasonable accommodation.” Second, an employer need
only make reasonable accommodation, and need not
make any accommodation that would constitute an
“undue hardship.” Third, an employer may take action
against an employee who poses a “direct threat” to the
health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
Nielsen v. Moroni Feed Co., 162 F.3d 604, 608 (10th Cir. 1998) (internal citations
and quotations omitted). We discuss the third limitation here only as it relates to
the reasonable inference that Ms. Doebele’s supervisors regarded her as disabled
due to her impairment-related conduct. Because the district court determined that
Ms. Doebele had failed to raise a fact issue on whether she was disabled under the
“regarded as” definition, the court did not address the issues of reasonable
accommodation and undue hardship and those matters are not at issue in this
appeal.
-32-
Urdaneta’s requested accommodations, they did not consider offering Ms.
Doebele another position at Sprint in which Dr. Urdaneta’s recommendations
could be implemented, even though Sprint was hiring 200-300 people a week at
the time. A fact finder could infer that Ms. Doebele’s supervisors believed she
was precluded from working in a broad class of positions due to their
misperception that she posed a threat to coworkers as a result of her mental
illness. We cannot agree with the district court’s conclusion that Ms. Doebele’s
“evidence on this point is virtually non-existent.” Doebele, 157 F. Supp. at 1213.
Rather, we agree with Ms. Doebele that in granting summary judgment for Sprint
on this claim the district court simply did not view the evidence in the light most
favorable to Ms. Doebele, or draw reasonable inferences in her favor.
In sum, we conclude that Ms. Doebele has raised a fact issue as to whether
her supervisors discriminated against her by regarding her as unable to perform
the activity of working due to her mental impairments. Accordingly, we reverse
the grant of summary judgment for Sprint on this claim and remand for further
proceedings.
B. Retaliation under the ADA and the FMLA
Ms. Doebele contends Sprint fired her in retaliation for exercising the
rights provided her under the ADA and the FMLA. Both statutes expressly
prohibit retaliation against individuals who make charges under or otherwise
-33-
exercise rights granted by their provisions. See 42 U.S.C. § 12203 (ADA); 29
U.S.C. § 2615 (FMLA). We address these claims under the analytical framework
applicable to Title VII, as set out in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S.
792, 802-04 (1973). See Morgan v. Hilti, Inc., 108 F.3d 1319, 1323 (10th Cir.
1997).
As with discrimination claims, once the plaintiff has established a
prima facie case of retaliation, the employer has the burden of
coming forth with a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its
adverse action. If the employer does so, the plaintiff may then
present evidence that the reason given by the employer is a mere
pretext for the real, discriminatory reason for the adverse action.
Butler v. City of Prairie Village, 172 F.3d 736, 752 (10th Cir. 1999) (citations
omitted).
“To establish a prima facie case of reprisal, a plaintiff must show (1)
protected employee action; (2) adverse action by an employer either after or
contemporaneous with the employee’s protected action; and (3) a causal
connection between the employee’s action and the employer’s adverse action.”
Morgan, 108 F.3d at 1324. Once a prima facie case is shown, the employer has
the burden of producing evidence of a nondiscriminatory reason for its action.
“This burden is one of production, not persuasion; it can involve no credibility
assessment.” Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 142
(2000) (internal quotation omitted). “[T]he plaintiff – once the employer
produces sufficient evidence to support a nondiscriminatory explanation for its
-34-
decision – must be afforded the opportunity to prove by a preponderance of the
evidence that the legitimate reasons offered by the defendant were not its true
reasons, but were a pretext for discrimination.” Id. at 143 (internal quotation
omitted).
In Reeves, the Supreme Court addressed the nature of the pretext evidence a
plaintiff must produce to withstand summary judgment once she shows a prima
facie case and the defendant has produced evidence of a legitimate
nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse action. The Court held that “a
plaintiff’s prima facie case, combined with sufficient evidence to find that the
employer’s asserted justification is false, may permit the trier of fact to conclude
that the employer unlawfully discriminated.” Id. at 148. Under Reeves, therefore,
a plaintiff’s prima facie case, plus evidence that the defendant’s reasons for the
adverse action were pretextual, may be adequate to defeat a motion for summary
judgment. The plaintiff need not show both that the defendant’s reasons were a
pretext and that the real reason was discrimination – the fact of pretext alone may
allow the inference of discrimination. Id. at 146-49.
In this case, the district court ruled that Ms. Doebele had presented a prima
facie case, 10 and that Sprint had articulated poor attendance and inappropriate
10
The district court concluded Ms. Doebele had stated a prima facie case
on her claim that Sprint retaliated against her for her use of leave under the
(continued...)
-35-
behavior as legitimate business reasons for its decision to terminate her. The
court concluded that Ms. Doebele failed to raise a fact issue on pretext, holding
that
the record compels an inference that even if [her supervisors] were
out to get plaintiff, it was because she was an intractable
management problem (i.e. as defendants claim, she had serious
interpersonal problems with both supervisors and fellow employees)
and not because she exercised her rights to take FMLA leave.
Doebele, 157 F. Supp. 2d at 1218. The court likewise concluded that even though
the record supported an inference of pretext, “it contains no evidence – aside from
the timing of events – that their agenda was a pretext for unlawful retaliation
under the ADA.” Id. at 1220. The court thus ruled that although Ms. Doebele
had shown a prima facie case and had presented evidence of pretext, summary
judgment for Sprint was nonetheless proper because she had failed to show the
reasons given were a pretext for unlawful retaliation.
On appeal, Ms. Doebele contends the district court erred on two grounds.
10
(...continued)
FMLA, Doebele, 157 F. Supp.2d at 1216, but ruled she had stated a prima facie
case under the ADA only with respect to her request for accommodations and not
with respect to her claim based on the written complaint she sent to Ms. Dillard.
Id. at 1219-20. Ms. Doebele does not challenge this ruling on appeal. Sprint
asserts on appeal in a footnote that it believes Ms. Doebele did not present
sufficient evidence to show a prima facie case on any of her retaliation claims.
Sprint does not present argument and authority on this issue and we therefore
deem it abandoned. Utahns for Better Transp. v. U.S. Dep’t of Transp., 305 F.3d
1152, 1175 (10th Cir. 2002), modified on reh’g, 319 F.3d 1207 (10th Cir. 2003).
-36-
First, she maintains she presented direct evidence of retaliatory motive and that
summary judgment was therefore improper. Second, she contends the district
court’s rulings on the retaliation claims were contrary to the Supreme Court’s
decision in Reeves. In its grant of summary judgment, the district court did not
cite to Reeves or evaluate the evidence under its holding. Although the court
recognized that the evidence, viewed most favorably to Ms. Doebele, tended to
show the reasons offered by Sprint were a “sham,” the court nonetheless granted
summary judgment for Sprint because Ms. Doebele had not presented sufficient
evidence that the real reason was discrimination. Reeves holds, to the contrary,
that a jury may draw an inference of discrimination from evidence of a prima
facie case and pretext alone. Reeves 530 U.S. at 146-49. See also Townsend v.
Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co., 294 F.3d 1232, 1239-40 (10th Cir. 2002); Stewart v.
Adolph Coors Co., 217 F.3d 1285, 1288 (10th Cir. 2000); Randle v. City of
Aurora, 69 F.3d 441, 451 (10th Cir. 1995).
The district court revisited the issue in its post-judgment ruling, addressing
the holding in Reeves and concluding nevertheless that summary judgment for
Sprint was proper. The court stated:
Under Reeves, plaintiff may not overcome summary judgment if the
“record conclusively revealed some other, nondiscriminatory reason
for the employer’s decision, or if the plaintiff created only a weak
issue of fact as to whether the employer’s reason was untrue and
there was abundant and uncontroverted independent evidence that no
discrimination had occurred.” While defendants may not have
-37-
conclusively established a nondiscriminatory reason for their
decision, plaintiff did not adequately satisfy her burden under
McDonnell Douglas.
Doebele, 168 F. Supp. 2d at 1265 (quoting Reeves, 530 U.S. at 148).
In so holding, the court discounted Ms. Dillard’s testimony that other
employees with worse attendance problems were not disciplined, observing that
Ms. Doebele had not shown those employees were similarly situated or that
employees with behavioral problems and attendance problems were not
disciplined. See id. Ultimately, the court held that “plaintiff failed to show that
defendant’s offered reasons for her termination were false or unworthy of belief.”
Id. at 1266. We disagree. The district court evaluated the evidence under an
erroneous view of the applicable legal standards, and failed to view the record
most favorably to Ms. Doebele or to draw reasonable inferences from the
evidence in her favor. When examined under the proper standards, the record
clearly is sufficient to raise a fact issue as to whether Sprint’s reasons for firing
Ms. Doebele were pretextual and, significantly, does not contain the requisite
“abundant and uncontroverted independent evidence that no discrimination had
occurred.” Reeves, 530 U.S. at 148.
We first point out the court erred in ruling that a plaintiff must show she
was treated differently from other similarly situated employees to survive
summary judgment. “Significantly, ‘[t]he evidence which [a plaintiff] can present
-38-
in an attempt to establish that [a defendant’s] stated reasons are pretextual may
take a variety of forms. . . . [A plaintiff] may not be forced to pursue any
particular means of demonstrating that [a defendant’s] stated reasons are
pretextual.’” Kendrick v. Penske Trans. Servs., Inc., 220 F.3d 1220, 1230 (10th
Cir. 2000) (quoting Patterson v. McLean Credit Union, 491 U.S. 164, 187-88
(1989)). As the above authority makes clear, pretext may be shown by a variety
of evidence and no one type of evidence is required. It is true that a plaintiff who
attempts to show pretext with evidence that the defendant acted contrary to
company practice when making the adverse employment decision may often do so
with evidence that she was treated differently from other similarly situated
employees. Id. It is also true that the failure to present probative evidence that
the plaintiff was in fact treated differently than those similarly situated may
permit the grant of summary judgment. Id. at 1232-34. However, this assessment
must be made by adding up the differences and similarities in light of all the
evidence of pretext to determine whether a plaintiff has created a fact issue on the
matter of pretext. Id. at 1234.
The record in this case contains both direct evidence of retaliatory motive
and circumstantial evidence tending to show pretext. As direct evidence, Ms.
Doebele points to Ms. Dillard’s testimony that Ms. Doebele’s supervisors
complained that due to her absences, most of which constituted valid FMLA
-39-
leave, her workload had to be distributed among other employees. Ms. McCurdy
sent an email to Ms. Carson addressing Dr. Urdaneta’s recommendation in
November 1998 that Ms. Doebele not work more than forty hours a week,
describing the recommendation as “ridiculous” and as an attempt by Ms. Doebele
to build “a reason to go on long-term disability.” Aplt. App., vol. II at 422. The
record also contains an email from human resources personnel describing as
“unfortunate” the fact that Ms. Doebele had timely requested a continuation of her
disability leave under the FMLA. Finally, in an email to her supervisor informing
him of Ms. Doebele’s upcoming final written warning, Ms. Carson pointed out
that Ms. Doebele had been on disability leave for over nine weeks.
In addition, when viewed most favorably to Ms. Doebele, the record
contains ample evidence that Sprint’s proffered reasons for its adverse
employment actions were pretextual. It is undisputed that although her
supervisors based Ms. Doebele’s discharge in part on her attendance problems,
much of her time off was taken pursuant to the FMLA and, in addition, at the time
she was fired it is undisputed that she still had time pool days available. Ms.
Dillard believed Ms. Doebele’s supervisors were purposely overloading her with
work, thus permitting the inference that they were deliberately adding to her
work-related stress in an attempt to get rid of her. Moreover, Ms. Doebele
presented evidence that the documentation for the written warning she received in
-40-
July 1998 was the product of procedural irregularities which Ms. Dillard viewed
as disturbing. 11 Ms. Dillard testified that the incidents upon which the warning
was based were not documented for many weeks and then only at her urging. She
stated that in her view the resulting paperwork was created in an attempt to justify
a decision already made. Ms. Dillard also testified that Ms. Doebele was treated
differently from other employees with mental problems, and that in similar
situations managers followed the guidance provided by the human resources
department to ensure they were not treating employees unlawfully and were acting
in the best interests of the employee and the company. 12 In this case, contrary to
the usual practice, Ms. Doebele’s supervisors not only disregarded the counsel
provided by Ms. Dillard, but they also complained to Ms. Dillard’s supervisor
who then took over Ms. Doebele’s file. Ms. Dillard testified that by the time her
11
This court recognizes that “disturbing procedural irregularities,”
including “deviations from normal company procedure,” provide support for a
plaintiff’s assertion of pretext. Garrett v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 305 F.3d 1210,
1219-20 (10th Cir. 2002) (quoting Mohammed v. Callaway, 698 F.2d 395, 401
(10th Cir. 1983)).
12
Given Ms. Dillard’s perspective on company-wide practices due to her
position as EEO compliance officer in the human resources department, we
cannot say her evidence on this issue is without probative value despite the
generalized nature of her observations. See Gossett v. Okla. ex rel. Bd. of Regents
for Langston Univ., 245 F.3d 1172, 1178-80 (10th Cir. 2001) (affiant’s position as
instructor provided opportunity to observe first hand school’s allegedly
discriminatory policies and practices). We also note that in posing this question,
counsel for Ms. Doebele asked Ms. Dillard not to name names, presumably in
order to protect the privacy of those employees who had been counseled for
claims of mental impairments. See Aplt. App., vol. II at 544.
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deposition was taken, her notes on Ms. Doebele’s case were missing. Finally,
after Ms. Dillard expressed her concern to Ms. Doebele’s supervisors that they
had not given her “a fair opportunity for her to demonstrate her ability to improve
her performance which is required under [Sprint] policy,” they responded they
understood the risk that their conduct could produce a complaint of discrimination
or harassment and that “we’re going to follow the steps that we’re required to
follow, meaning we are going to gather the proper data, the proper
documentation, and we’re going to manage her performance but we are going to
be on her all the time.” Aplt. App., vol. II at 542-43. This evidence permits a
reasonable inference that Ms. Doebele’s supervisors acted with an ulterior motive
and had engineered and manufactured the reasons they proffered for terminating
her employment. In so holding, we emphasize that at the summary judgment
stage “all doubts concerning pretext must be resolved in plaintiff’s favor.”
Morgan, 108 F.3d at 1324.
Accordingly, we conclude Ms. Doebele has presented sufficient evidence to
raise a fact issue for the jury on her claim that Sprint discharged her in retaliation
for the exercise of her rights under the ADA and the FMLA. Summary judgment
for Sprint on these claims is reversed and the case is remanded for further
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proceedings. 13
C. Retaliation under State Law
Ms. Doebele also asserts a claim for retaliatory discharge under state law,
contending that Sprint fired her in anticipation that she would file a workers’
compensation claim. The district court granted summary judgment for Sprint on
this claim, reasoning that because mental injuries are not compensable under the
Kansas workers’ compensation statute absent physical injury, Ms. Doebele’s
13
Ms. Doebele also challenges the district court’s denial of her motion to
file a surreply to Sprint’s reply brief to which Sprint attached new evidentiary
material relevant to the issue of pretext. Ms. Doebele contends the district court
improperly relied on the new material in violation of Beaird v. Seagate Tech.,
Inc., 145 F.3d 1159 (10th Cir. 1998), and that she was prejudiced by the court’s
consideration of this evidence.
In Beaird, we held that “[h]aving accepted the reply brief, the district court
in fact had two permissible courses of action. It could either have permitted a
surreply or, in granting summary judgment for the movant, it could have refrained
from relying on any new material contained in the reply brief.” Id. at 1164. We
pointed out that “Rule 56(c) requires the nonmoving party to be given notice and
a reasonable opportunity to respond to the movant’s summary judgment
materials.” Id. “Rule 56(c) simply requires that if the court relies on new
materials or new arguments in a reply brief, it may not forbid the nonmovant from
responding to these new materials.” Id. at 1165 (emphasis added). The district
court incorrectly distinguished Beaird on the ground that it applied only to new
legal arguments supported by new materials while here, the new material
supported legal arguments already made. Rather, Beaird speaks in terms of either
new legal arguments or new material. Therefore, in accordance with Beaird, we
conclude the court abused its discretion to the extent it relied on new evidentiary
materials presented for the first time in Sprint’s reply brief. Id. at 1164.
However, in view of our reversal of the grant of summary judgment on her claims
of pretext, we need not address whether Ms. Doebele was prejudiced. Any
prejudice flowing from her inability to reply to this material may be corrected on
remand.
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retaliation claim was barred. See Doebele, 157 F. Supp. 2d at 1222. 14 Ms.
Doebele argues on appeal that she is not claiming Sprint retaliated because she
had filed a workers’ compensation claim, but that Sprint retaliated in anticipation
of her filing such a claim. Ms. Doebele contends that under Kansas law, a court
is to look at the intent of the employer at the time the termination decision is
made, and that the evidence is sufficient to create a fact issue concerning whether
her supervisors’ decision was motivated by their fear that she would file in the
future. However, Ms. Doebele does not address in either her opening or reply
brief the district court’s ruling that absent physical injury, mental injuries are not
compensable under the Kansas workers’ compensation statute so her state
retaliation claim lacks merit.
In analyzing retaliatory discharge cases under the Kansas workers’
compensation statute, the Kansas courts have adopted the burden-shifting
framework originally set out in McDonnell Douglas Corp., as applied to federal
employment discrimination and retaliation claims. See Foster v. AlliedSignal
Inc., 293 F.3d 1187, 1193 (10th Cir. 2002); Sanjuan v. IBP, Inc., 275 F.3d 1290,
1294 (10th Cir. 2002) (citing Rebarchek v. Farmers Coop. Elevator & Mercantile
Ass’n, 35 P.3d 892, 898 (Kan. 2001) (Sanjuan II). Under this familiar scheme, a
14
It is clear that under the Kansas workers compensation scheme, mental
disorders are not compensable absent physical injury. See Followill v. Emerson
Elec. Co., 674 P.2d 1050 (Kan. 1984).
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plaintiff has the initial burden of making a prima facie case. See Sanjuan v. IBP,
Inc., 160 F.3d 1291, 1298 (10th Cir. 1998) (Sanjuan I).
In meeting this initial burden, the plaintiff must show, in part, that she
sustained an injury for which she could or might assert a future claim for benefits.
Compare Sanjuan I, 160 F.3d at 1298 (articulating standard as sustaining injury
for which one might assert future claim of benefits), and Mackey v. IBP, Inc., 167
F.R.D. 186, 194 (D. Kan. 1996) (same), with Robinson v. Wilson Concrete Co.,
913 F. Supp. 1476, 1483 (D. Kan. 1996) (standard stated as sustaining injury for
which one could assert future claim of benefits), and Bracken v. Dixon Indus.
Inc., 38 P.3d 679, 682 (Kan. 2002) (same). See also Crumpacker v. Kansas, 2003
WL 21872550 at *6 (10th Cir. 2003) (retaliation claim cannot be based on
unreasonable good-faith belief that underlying conduct violated Title VII).
Because Ms. Doebele did not pose any challenge to the district court’s conclusion
that she failed to state a prima facie case for retaliatory discharge based on her
inability to show she was entitled to file a workers’ compensation claim, we deem
this matter waived. See State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Mhoon, 31 F.3d 979, 984
n.7 (10th Cir. 1994) (failure to raise issue in appellate briefs constitutes waiver).
Consequently, we affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment to Sprint
on this issue.
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED in part, and REVERSED
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in part, and the case is REMANDED for further proceedings in light of this
opinion.
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